Significance of Russo-Japenese War

The establishment of Japanese naval supremacy- Russia failed to defeat Japanese navy, who were supplying the Japanese army with resources: 25-35 ships lost to Japan in one afternoon because of failure to modernize naval fleet

The loss of Port Arthur January 2nd 1904- inability to get troops to the theatre of war - Battle of Mukden

Russian people angry and ashamed of defeat

5 of 6

Why revolution broke out in 1905

Long term grievances-

Urban population quadrupled from 7 to 28 million and living conditions in cities were extremely poor

16 people per apartment average and 14% of houses had no water supply

Talk of provision of trade unions or fair judicial system gave the "impetus" for revolution

Peasant grievances

Neglected by Witte's economic policy

Insufficient farming systems

Government debt on top of redemption payments

Started violent protests (1905), joined by Nationalists angered by continued use of Russification